For the first time since 2017, Bellator MMA returns to Madison Square Garden for UFC 222. Taking place on June 14, Scott Coker and company will look to start off the summer with a bang. That is especially true thanks in part to their partnership with Rizin.
In order to make this the best card possible, Bellator has planned out which fighter is placed where on the card. Local talent like Heather Hardy, Mike Kimbel and Lindsey VanZandt are scheduled to kick things off on the undercard. Standout prospect Aaron Pico will main event the prelims against Adam Borics, taking place on DAZN. With one Gracie on the main card, Robson Gracie Jr. will also look to make an impact against Oscar Vera.
The main card, also taking place on DAZN, features six bouts. A special bantamweight bout between Ricky Bandejas and Patrick Mix has been moved from the prelims to the main card. Opening up the show will be Darrion Caldwell v. Kyoki Horiguchi for the formers Bellator Bantamweight Title. This is the rematch from their bout at Rizin 14 in December when Horiguchi submitted Caldwell. The co-main event will feature Lyoto Machida v. Chael Sonnen while the main event will be Rory MacDonald defending his Welterweight Title against Neiman Gracie in the semifinals of the Welterweight Grand Prix.
Here is the full lineup of matches taking place at Bellator 222:
Main Card (DAZN, 10. p.m. ET)
– Rory MacDonald (20-5-1) (c) v. Neiman Gracie (9-0) – Welterweight Championship, Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinal
– Lyoto Machida (25-8) v. Chael Sonnen (31-16-1)
– Dillon Danis (1-0) v. Max Humphrey (3-2)
– Ricky Bandejas (11-2) v. Patrick Mix (10-0)
– Eduardo Dantas (21-6) v. Juan Archeleta (22-1)
– Darrion Caldwell (13-2) (c) v. Kyoji Horiguchi (27-2) – Bantamweight Championship
Prelims (DAZN and Bellator App, 6:30 p.m. ET)
– Aaron Pico (4-2) v. Ada, Borics (12-0)
– Heather Hardy (2-1) v. Taylor Turner (3-5)
– Valerie Loureda (1-0) v. Larkyn Dasch (0-1)
– Robson Gracie Jr. (1-0) v. Oscar Vera (pro debut)
– Mike Kimbel (2-1) v. Sebastian Ruiz (2-2)
– Haim Gozali (10-6) Gustavo Wurlitzer (22-22, 1 NC)
– Lindsay VanZandt (5-1) v. Rena Kubota (8-2)
– Phil Hawes (4-2) v. Michael Wilcox (6-3)
– Marcus Surin (5-1) v. Nekruz Mirkhojaev (4-2)
– Brandon Medina (pro debut) v. Brandon Polcare (1-2)
– Kastriot Xhema (2-3) v. Whitney Jean Francois (2-6-1)
– John Beneduce (2-2) v. Kenny Rivera (2-1)
Tickets are currently still available for Bellator 222. You can grab them now at the MSG box office and at Ticketmaster.com.
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